Motorists driving along Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront have this week been warned that ‘Big Brother’ is watching following the introduction of several new police CCTV cameras.
The high-tech cameras have been installed next to the jetty at the junction of The Esplanade and Pier Street, and another has been put in place opposite the Tourist Information Centre at the entrance to Morrisons Car Park (pictured right).
The cameras feature automatic number plate recognition technology that allows police officers to identify stolen vehicles being driven in the town.
Inspector Roger Tolley of Burnham Police told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The cameras give us greatly improved coverage of the busy area on the seafront around the top of Pier Street and Morrisons. They will help us tackle the historic problem of speeding along The Esplanade and monitor any incidents in Pier Street before they develop.”
“The cameras are a natural step on from the dispersal orders introduced at car parks in the town last year. They will allow us to deal with problems faster and more effectively.”
He added: “People should feel safer in that part of town with the cameras in place.”
He added that new CCTV cameras are also planned in Highbridge over the coming months, with one being set to be installed soon in Church Street.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported last year that Burnham Holiday Village had agreed to give £10,000 towards the purchase and installation of the cameras along the South Esplanade in a bid to combat the problems of anti-social driving near the entrance to its holiday park.
Further funding has come from the Somerset Crime and Disorder Partnership, which has given £10,000 to the scheme, and Town Council, which gave £2,000.
Pictured are two of the new CCTV cameras introduced recently on Burnham-On-Sea’s Esplanade outside Morrisons car park and, below, at the top of Pier Street
